North Coast grape growers are weeks away from having to make crucial decisions about how much water to use for frost protection, but already are facing what is widely interpreted as a threat of being sued by environmental groups over potential harm to fish habitats

Sass built an experiment designed to look at the same wine from three different perspectives for three different wines in the Halter Ranch program. On a recent visit to Krush 92.5, Kevin Sass discussed his trial.

Chris Donatiello, board president for the Russian River Valley Winegrowers (RRVW), announced today the trade association's main initiatives for 2014, following the annual meeting of the organization's vintners and growers.

Now the Eastern Winery Exposition, getting set for its third installment March 4-6 at the Lancaster County Convention Center, has built its own comfortable niche. Exhibition booths were sold out five weeks early, albeit a few cancellations have left a couple still available, and much of the Northeast is again represented, beginning with the biggest contingent from Pennsylvania.

The Napa County Planning Commission ultimately approved the use permit for Diogenes Ridge Winery last week, but not before Commissioner Bob Fiddaman threatened to withhold his support out of concerns that the winery owners weren't providing sufficient evidence that they would use Napa Valley grapes for their wines

The University of Minnesota-Extension report says cold-hardy grapes developed by the school and private breeders have generated a vibrant farm winery industry, pumping $401 million into the U.S. economy in 2011. And it says the industry has created 12,600 jobs in northern states.

This year brings a new element of possibility for the family that operates the historic Bargetto Winery in Soquel. Bargetto, who oversees the vineyard as well as winemaking and marketing, is exploring building a second, smaller winery at Regan, a 50-acre property that carries his mother's maiden name.

Becoming the head winemaker at one of the oldest, largest and most well-known wineries in Michigan is pressure enough. Add age (early 30s) and sex (female) into the mix, and Nancie Oxley knew she had her work cut out for her when she ascended to the top of the team at Paw Paw-based St. Julian Winery.

The Glass Packaging Institute and its members proudly boast that glass is "endlessly recyclable," and thus eco-positive. How effective this is in practice depends upon local recycling programs that deliver cullet (re-usable glass) to glass plants.

For years, organizers of the pruning competition, now in its 13th year, debated whether to include women, in part they said because women expressed reluctance to compete against men. The creation of a women-only division was seen as a compromise.

The problem is that 1922 fell in an unusually wet period. For decades that did not matter; the basin states were not big enough to demand their full allocation. No more: five of the seven are among America's ten fastest-growing states. Moreover, climate change may be reducing supply even as demand rises

There are no figures yet available to show an exact number of orchards being removed, but the economic stakes and risks facing growers are clear. Almonds and other nuts are among the most high-value crops in the Central Valley - the biggest producer of such crops in the country. In 2012, California's almond crop had an annual value of $5 billion. This year farmers say the dry conditions are forcing them to make difficult decisions

federal officials announced Friday that the Central Valley Project -- California's largest water delivery system -- will provide no water this year to Central Valley farmers and only 50 percent of the contracted amount to urban areas

Cabaner was sentenced for falsifying company accounts in order to make it seem that the company was in good financial health. He aimed to deliberately mislead his suppliers so that they would continue to provide grapes and wines despite not having been paid for previous orders, the court heard.

A new 7.5-mile cross-country ski trail links two wineries and a cider house in the Leelanau Peninsula about 15 miles northwest of Traverse City. The route to Blustone Vineyards, Forty-Five North Vineyard & Winery and Tandem Ciders crosses orchards and vineyards in the fruit-growing region

Following the discovery of flavesence dorée in the south of Burgundy last June, the ministry of agriculture told growers across the region to spray their vines with pesticides just in case the disease carriers - leaf hopper insects (pictured) - were moving north

Burgundy 2012 wines are being priced 10 percent to 30 percent or more above comparable 2011 vintages because of lower yields after spring frosts and summer hailstorms, according to winemakers and U.K. importers